The 2008 Phandom 25: Memorial Day Blockbuster

Last year I wrote a series of posts chronicling 2007’s 20 greatest moments in Phillies Phandom. Each game had a special “wow” factor, whether it was an insane comeback, an awesome feat or a trademark moment. And each game was a Phillies win, of course.

For this year, clearly, you know the top moment. But ranking the rest was very difficult. Do I rank the NLCS second just because? Is the NL East clinching victory as important as other postseason moments? I used some heavy discretion, but I believe I came up with a pretty solid list.

Each moment has an attached video link, if you’d like to go back and reminisce.

Like the 100 Greatest Phillies countdown, I’ll be posting one per day. I swear, you won’t get any more countdowns this offseason.

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21. XX: Sweet Redemption
Date: May 26, 2008

Memorial Day 2008. “Indiana Jones and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” was the big show in theaters for the summer kickoff weekend, but the Phillies put on their own blockbuster on the cinema known as Citizens Bank Park.

It seemed like an innocent enough game. The Phillies and Rockies traded early runs, and by the end of the third, the score was tied at four. A little high, sure, but nothing would prepare us for what came next: A 16-run outburst by the good guys.

Picking it up in the fourth, it started with Chris Coste, who doubled down the right field line to make it 5-4. Then So Taguchi lined a double down the left field line, making it 6-4. Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley then drove in runs, before Pedro Feliz ended the fourth with a two-run single. 10-4 Phils. Game over, right?

Not yet.

In the sixth, against Josh Newman, the Phils decided more teeing off was in order. With two on, Coste delivered again — a three-run bomb to left field. Then Utley singled to drive in his fifth of the game (three came on his league-leading 16th homer in the first inning), before Howard brought two more with a single. 16-4 Phils. Now we’re done, right?

Nope.

In the eighth, Utley drove home his sixth of the game — a personal record — to make it 17-4. Then TJ Bohn collected his first RBI. 18-4. Finally, Feliz brought home two more. 20-4.